Education of Roma children in Latvia

1. Education of Roma children inLatvia Deniss Kretalovs Secretariat of the Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration European Anti-Discrimination Policy Department

2. Statistical data – Roma population • 1935 g. registered 3 839 roma people (0,2 % of the total population) • 2000 g. – 8205roma people • 2005 g. – 8467 roma people • 2006g. – 8498roma people (0,3 % of the total population) • Romani leaders believe that the real number is somewhere between 15000 and 20000 • Roma NGO leaders regarding the number of Roma in the towns is 12 400. Another 3 000 are reported to live in rural areas and small towns.

3. Roma geography Ventspils 1031 Talsi 586 Valmiera 237 Sabile 91 Jūrmala 439 Tukums 541 RIGA 1160 Kuldīga 255 Jelgava 1010 Jēkabpils 300 Preiļi 100 Daugavpils 366 The official number comes from the 2000 census

4. Families in Privately Owned Housing by Type and by Number of Children, 2000

5. Education Level of the Roma, 2000 Source: The 2000 Latvian National Census, LCSP, 2002.

6. The Number of Romani Children in General Education Schools in Latvia Source: Ministry of Education and Science, “The distribution of children attending general education schools in the Republic of Latvia bynationality”

7. School Attendance • Census data indicate that many Romani people never did go to school, while an even greater number haveattended only a few classes • Class attendance problems are typical both among Romani children in special classes for the Roma and amongRomani children in ordinary schools • In Kuldīga, Tukums and Ventspils, researchers were told that all children goto the first grade. In Tukums thisjob is reportedly done by a representative of a Romani NGO. He visits Romani parents at their homes to convincethem of the need for education. In Ventspils, this role has been undertaken by teachers. They also pay visits tothe parents of Romani children who have been missing from school

8. Old Solution of problem - Special Schools for Roma children • Arguments for Special Schools for Roma children: • Romani children are more likely to attend schooland continue their education if they attend special schools or classrooms for Romani children • because they don’t have to face discriminatory attitudes from other children and teachers • they don’t have to face a situation in which they domore poorly than their classmates on their schoolwork • they might feel better in an environment where they are amongst their own people

9. Information about Romani Classes in Latvia in 2003

10. Arguments in opposition to separate programs and schools • There are two main arguments in opposition to separate programs and schools: - First, (a) this is a form ofdiscrimination, (b) Romani children are never competitive with other young people ineducation and in the search for employment, (c) The quality of teaching in these schools tends to be lowerthan the norm - Second, (d) separate schools are a form of segregation which keeps Romani children awayfrom others, (e) this is notdevelopment of the successful integration of Romani people into the society of a country

11. New Solution of problem – implementing preschool institutions for Romani children • The idea of implementing preschool institutions for Romani children goes from NGO “Center of the Education Initiatives” • Realization of this idea is in Government level: National Action Plan “Roma in Latvia” 2007-2009, which has been supported by The Cabinet of Ministers in October 2006, consist of many projects for the implementation of this idea

12. The activities are planned in Action Plan to achieve following results • The Program “Assistant of the teacher for Roma” will be elaborated by specialists of NGO Center of the Education Initiatives (2007) • 20 Roma assistants will be trained using The Program “Assistant of the teacher for Roma” (2007-2008) and implemented in preparatory classes for Roma in regions inhabited by Roma (2008-2009) • Will be well furnished 10 ethnically diverse preparatory classes to introduce inclusive principles into education program (in 2008) • will be trained 30 teachers in programs of preparatory education used methodic “Roma child is ready for the School” by Center of the Education Initiatives (in 2007) • Will be organized the cycle of seminars “Teachers work within class where Roma children are being taught” for Latvian teachers, who teach Roma children (in 9 cities, in 2007-2008) • Will be organized public discussion with Roma parents participation “Roma children in the School” in cities inhabited by Roma (12 cities in year 2007)

13. Institutions and responsibilities • Secretariat of the Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration is responsible for implementation of Action Plan “Roma in Latvia” 2007-2009 • In cooperation with NGO “Center of the Education Initiatives”, Ministry of Education and Science and self-governments, Roma NGO’s

14. Thank You!